The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-06-30
IN GIRLDOM,

Ny apology for the following sketch
must he the request of few friends to
whom the events recorded in it were
related in that bachelors sanctum.
smoking room. l was told that in an
age of travel and discovery should
not withhold my quota Of fresh expo
rience. I'VE have read" said they,
..books on all manner of strange places
Five Years Penal Servitude:' .Canni-
bal Life and Character a Journey to
the Moon and so forth; but who Of
happy bachelors ever got inside 4 girls
school. or. as il is known on brass door
plates, An Educational Establishment
for Young Ladies'? II any. they have
never dared to tell the tale. Pick up
your courage. man, and let the world
know
Yes, this page Of life is still blank,
and to fill it am now endeavoring. by
setting down with trembling pen my
curious and thrilling adventures.
Some few years back was spending
part Of my first long vacation at Ok
bridge with some friends in Camshire.
just as my visit was terminating toward
the end of July. | received letter from
home, asking me to bring back with
me a sister, whose term at school in
Skipperton, town in the same county,
ended about that time. In IN evil
hour / consented, and made my way
to Skipperton. gotthere on Saturday.
expecting to 20 on in the course Of the
same day; but it was not SO to be. Having
left my luggage at this most perplex-
inc of stations, walked to the address.
algebra Lodge, and found a fine old
house of some size, fronted by pain
fully trim gravel walk and meagre
flower beds.
On the door being opened in answer
TO my ring, ! was ushered by partic-
ularly tidy maid into sitting room OF
quite exceptional neatness. This ex-
cessive order everywhere made me feel
nervous: reflected that l had been
travelling, saw that my clothes were
dusty. fell my necktie awry, and
shuddered at the thought of a possible
>mudge on my face. However, there
was no time to put things ship-shape,
for rustling was heard, and in came
mistress herself.
Now had heard Very bad accounts
Of Miss Spinney, for such was her name,
from my sister and her friends. She
was spiteful, cross as two sticks, would
read letters, even opening them when
marked private with double dash,
always contiscated nice novels, and was
quite too dreadfully suspicious of ..cous.
ms who might wish to call. Being,
venture to say, man of some expert.
ence in these matters, had heavily dis.
counted these notes Of character, put.
ting sensational instead of ..nice'
before novels, and considering that let
tiers marked private" with double
dash, We're probably quite as suspicion:
rs the cousins from whom they NIGH
emanate. How often does the wore
cousin cover multitude Of sins!|
Still was not prepared for SO nice !
person as Miss Spinney turned out t.
be. She had linglets, indeed, but NO
Of the rigid, black corkHrew description
had expected; hers were Of sof
gray color; instead of being angular
she was decidedly round; instead o
staring me out of countenance will
hard, stony eyes, she beamed upon nj
most effusively through gold-rimmet
spectacles.
After putting me thoroughly at m,
ease, she informed me very pleasant,
that my sister could not possibly b
ready to leave before the Monday. A
this l was naturally aghast, but after
moments consideration replied that
could put up for the Sunday at tn
Grown"
1.-The Crown" said the generou
spinister: ''no such thing! l can Civ
you spare room, and you will hav
all you want in my own part Of tn
house, beside being near your sister. !"
Overcome by her warmth, gave il
at once, and accepted her offer. N
sooner had started on my way to tn
station to fetch my luggage than M
heart misgave me-but it was too lat
the die was east. SadlyI entered
cab and gloomier grew my thought
as again approached Algebra Lodge.
just as the miserable horse drew "a
to the gate, the young ladies were re
turning from their afternoons walk
two by two, in the approved style.
stepped out and had to encounter tn
gaze of 20 pairs of eager eyes. Thi
sounnerved me that offered the cabmal
a penny instead of form, which h
held up to the gaze of the aforesaid
eyes to complete my discontinue.
do not know how ! should have stagger
ed into the house, had it not been TO